Luther quote

“For to suffer wrong destroys no man's soul, in fact it improves the soul, though it does inflict hurt to our body and possessions. But to do wrong destroys the soul, even though all the world's wealth be gained.” Martin Luther, Treatise on Good Works, LW, AE, 44:92

Latin proverb

Astra regunt homines, sed regit astra Deus. (Anon.)

The stars rule men, but God rules the stars.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Probus, 276-282 AD

- defeated most of the German invaders, but the soldiers though they were worked too hard and were unappreciated, so they deserted him and he was killed

Carus, 282-283 AD

- defeated the Germans on the Danube, and defeated the Persians, but was found dead in his tent one night

Imitation of Christ

Miser es ubicumque fueris, et quocumque te verteris, nisi ad Deum te convertas. Quid turbaris quia non succedit tibi sicut vis et desideras? Quis est qui habeat omnia secundum suam voluntatem? Nec ego, nec tu, nec aliquis hominum super terram. Nemo est in mundo sine aliqua tribulatione, vel angustia, quivis Rex, vel Papa. Quis est, qui melius habet? Utique qui pro Deo aliquid pati valet.
 

You are miserable wheresoever you are, and wherever you turn, unless you turn to God. Why are you disquieted because things don't happen to you according to your wishes and desires? Who is he that has everything according to his will? Neither I, nor you, nor any man upon the earth. There is no man in the world free from trouble or anguish, though he were King or Pope. Who is he who has the happiest lot? Even he who is strong to suffer somewhat for God.

Imitation of Christ, I, 22:1

Ecclesiasticus

"Do not consult with a fool, for he will not be able to keep a secret." Ecclesiasticus 8:17

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Tacitus, 275-276 AD

- fought against the Goths, died after about 8 months from fever

Florian, 276 AD

- declared himself emperor (without waiting for the soldiers or the Senate to proclaim him), killed by his own soldiers

Patristics

“True knowledge is [that which consists in] the doctrine of the apostles, and the ancient constitution of the Church throughout all the world, and the distinctive manifestation of the body of Christ according to the successions of the bishops, by which they have handed down that Church which exists in every place, and has come even unto us, being guarded and preserved, without any forging of Scriptures, by a very complete system of doctrine, and neither receiving edition nor [suffering] curtailment [in the truths which she believes]; and [it consists in] reading [the word of God] without falsification, and a lawful and diligent exposition in harmony with the Scriptures, both without danger and without blasphemy; and [above all, it consists in] the pre-eminent gift of love, which is more precious than knowledge, more glorious than prophecy, and which excels all the other gifts [of God].” Irenaeus, Against Heresies, IV, 33:8, ANF, 1:508

Baier's Axioms

Praesentem monstrat quaelibet herba Deum.

The green plants everywhere demonstrate the [ever-]present God.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Aurelian, 270-275AD

- continued fights with invaders, in 271 had a wall built around Rome (12 feet thick and 20 feet high) to keep out sudden attacks - conquered the smaller “states” inside the empire that had been created under Gallienus

- established the worship of the sun (Sol Invictus) as an official religion of the state, with he birthday of the god being on December 25^th, the day the Romans accepted as the winter solstice (this day had been popularized by Christians as the birthday of Jesus some fifty years earlier, no later than 221 AD)

- in 275, he threatened to punish his private secretary for lying - the secretary went out and lied to senior officers that Aurelian was going to kill them, and they had the emperor assassinated

Luther quotes

“In the former case, the temporal authority punishes too much; in the latter case, it punishes too little. To err in this [105] direction, however, and punished too little is more tolerable, for it is always better to let a scoundrel live then to put a godly man to death. The world has plenty of scoundrels anyway and must continue to have them, but godly men are scarce.” Martin Luther, Temporal Authority: To what Extent Should It Be Obeyed, LW, AE, 45:104-5

Latin proverbs

Virtus nobilitat homines, sapientia ditat. (Werner)

Virtue enobles people and wisdom makes them rich.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Claudius II Gothicus, 268-270 AD

- army had liked Gallienus, thought Claudius had a hand in his death - won victories over the Goths, but new invaders (including the Vandals) appeared - on his way to the battle, an outbreak of the continuing plague struck the army and Claudius died from it

Quintillus, 270 AD

- brother of Claudius, but he wasted too much time, was deserted by the soldiers and killed himself

Imitation of Christ

Si frequentius de morte tua, quam de longitudine vitæ tua cogitares, non dubium, quin ferventius te emendares. Si etiam futuras Inferni, sivi Pergatorii, poenas cordialiter perpenderes, credo quod libenter dolorem et laborem sustineres, et nihil rigoris formidares. Sed quia ista ad cor non transeunt, et blandimenta adhuc amamus, ideo frigidi et valde pigri remanemus.

If you thought upon your death more often than how long your life should be, you would doubtless strive more earnestly to improve. And if you seriously considered the future pains of hell, I believe you would willingly endure toil or pain and fear not discipline. But because these things don't reach the heart, and we still love pleasant things, therefore we remain cold and miserably indifferent.

 Imitation of Christ, I, 21:5

Ecclesiasticus

"Do not travel on the  road with a foolhardy fellow, lest he be burdensome to you; for he will act as he pleases, and through his folly you will perish with him."  Ecclesiasticus 8:15

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Gallienus, 253-268 AD

- joint emperor with father, then sole emperor (he made no attempt to rescue his father) - many German tribes attacking along the Rhine, the Franks (first time they're heard of) into Gaul and Spain, the Alamani into Italy, the Goths and Herules into Greece and Asia Minor

- following the lead of the Persians, created armored calvary (became the knights of the Middle Ages, and the tanks of today)

- “Age of 30 Tyrants” - too many many rebellions and pretenders to count (rebels had people rebelling against them), control over significant parts of the empire was lost

LC-MS

“All of us who are spiritual priests through faith should not boast of this privileges if we were arrogant enthusiasts. Instead, let us consider what high and holy duty this privilege lays on us.” CFW Walther, on Romans 12:3-6, quoted in God Grant It (CPH, 2006) for Saturday 1 Epiphany, p. 129

Patristics

“Add to this, that sins, however great and detestable they may be, are looked upon as trivial, or as not sins at all, when men get accustomed to them; and so far does this go, that such sins are not only not concealed, but are boasted of, and published far and wide;....” Augustine, Enchiridion, LXXX, NPNF1, 3:263

Baier's Axioms

Saf¾j tÁj ¢pist…aj ™legcÒj ™sti, tÕ pîj perˆ Qeoà zhte‹n.

Clearly the certainty of unbelief is [about] how to seek God.

Luther quotes

“A Christian should be so disposed that he will suffer every evil and injustice without avenging himself; neither will he seek legal redress in the courts that have no need of temporal authority and law for his own sake. On behalf of others, however, he may and should seek vengeance, justice, attraction, and help, and do as much as he can to achieve it.” ML, Temporal Authority: To what Extent Should It Be Obeyed, LW, AE, 45:101

Latin proverbs

Homo locum ornat, non hominem locus. (Medieval)

The man decorates the position, not the position the man.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Valerian, 253-260 AD

- lots of military problems - Germans were over the Rhine, Goths and Burgundians were over the Danube, Persians in the east - divided the responsibilities of the empire up with his son Gallienus who was in charge in the West, Valerian took the East

- because the plague had weakened the army, when the Persians invaded in 260, Valerian tried to negotiate and was captured by Shapur

- continued the persecution of Christians - bishops and pastors killed, the rich had all their property confiscated, the poor were sent to the mines

Latin proverbs

Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis. (Horace)

Brave men are created by brave and good deeds.

Imitation of Christ

Non attrahas tibi res aliorum, nec te implices causis majorum. Habeas semper oculum super te primum, et admoneas te ipsum specialiter, præ omnibus tibi dilectis. Si non habes favorem hominum noli exinde tristari, sed hoc tibi sit grave quia non habes te satis bene et circumspecte, sicut deceret servum Dei et devotum Religiosum conversari. Utilius est sæpe et securius, quod homo non habeat multas consolationes in hac vita secudum carnem, præcipue tamen, quod divinas non habemus, aut rarius sentimus nos devotos; in culpa sumus, quia compunctionem non quærimus cordis, ac vanas et extrinsecas non abjicimus.
 

Busy not yourself with the affairs of others, nor entangle yourself with the business of great men.  Keep always your eye upon yourself first of all, and give advice to yourself specially before all your dearest friends. If you have not the favour of men, be not thereby cast down, but let your concern be that you hold not yourself so well and circumspectly, as becomes a servant of God and a devout monk. It is often better and safer for a man not to have many comforts in this life, especially those which concern the flesh. But that we lack divine comforts or feel them rarely is to our own blame, because we seek not compunction of heart, nor utterly cast away those comforts which are vain and worldly.

Imitation of Christ, I, 21:3

Ecclesiasticus

"Do not lend to a man who is stronger than you; but if you do lend anything, be as one  who has lost it."  Ecclesiasticus 8:12

Luther quotes

“Just as one can serve God in the estate of marriage or in farming or a trade, for the benefit of others – and must so serve if his neighbor needs it – so one can serve God in government, and should there serve if the needs of his neighbor demand it. For those who punish evil and protect the good are God's servants and workmen.” ML, Temporal Authority: To what Extent Should It Be Obeyed, LW, AE, 45:100

Patristics

“And further, should anyone be inclined to boast, not indeed of his works, but of the freedom of his will, as if the first merit belonged to him, this very liberty of good action being given to him as the reward he had earned, let him listen to this same preacher of grace, when he says: 'For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His own good pleasure;....” Augustine, Enchiridion, XXXII, NPNF1, 3:248

Baier's Axioms

Si non potes invenire, quid sit Deus, tamen caveas de eo sentire, quod non est.

If you are not able to discover what God is, beware of thinking about Him what He is not.

Luther quotes

“In what concerns you and yours, you govern yourself by the gospel and suffer injustice toward yourself as a true Christian; in what concerns the person or property of others, you govern yourself according to love and tolerate no injustice toward your neighbor.” ML, Temporal Authority: To what Extent Should It Be Obeyed, LW, AE, 45:96

Latin proverbs

Juppiter in caelis, Caesar regit omnia terris. (Anon.)

Jupiter rules in heaven, Caesar rules everything on earth.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Aemilian, 253 AD

- another general proclaimed emperor, then was killed by his own troops

Latin proverbs

Numquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit. (Juvenal)

Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.

Patristics

“And he is freely in bondage who does with pleasure the will of his master. Accordingly, he who is the servant of sin is free to sin. And hence he will not be free to do right, until, being freed from sin, he shall begin to be the servant of righteousness.” Augustine, Enchiridion, XXX, NPNF1, 3:247

Baier's Axioms

Fecisti nos, Domine, ad te, et inquietum est cor nostrum, donec requiescat in te.

Lord, You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it finds rest in You.

Luther quotes

“This you will never accomplish; for the world and the masses are and always will be un-Christian, even if they are all baptized and Christian in name. Christians are few and far between (as the saying is). Therefore, it is out of the question that there should be a common Christian government over the whole world, or indeed over single country or any considerable body of people, for the wicked always outnumber the good.” ML, Temporal Authority: To what Extent Should It Be Obeyed, LW, AE, 45:91

Latin proverbs

Parva leves capiunt animas. (Ovid)

Small things capture light minds.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Trebonius Gallus, 251-253 AD

- his short reign was one continuous disaster - (1) a plague, which raged for 15 years, crippled the empire and the armies (2) the Persians made gains in the East taking over a Roman province (3) the Goths came over the Danube and pillaged as far as Asia Minor (Turkey)

- continued the persecution of the Christians - killed by his own troops

Luther quotes

“Hence, no insurrection is ever right, no matter how right the cause it seeks to promote. It always results in more damage than improvement and verifies the saying, 'Things go from bad to worse.'” ML, Sincere Admonition to All Christians, LW, AE, 45:63

Imitation of Christ

Propter levitatem cordis et negligentiam defectuum nosrorum non senstimus animæ nostræ dolores, sed sæpe vane reddimus verba, quandomerito flere deberemus. Non est vera libertas, nec bona conscientia, nisi in timore Dei. Felix qui abjicere potest omne impedimentum distractionis, et ad unionem se redigere sanctæ compunctionis. Felix qui a se abdicat quidquid suam conscientiam maculare potest, vel gravare. Certa viriliter. Consuetudo consuetudine vincitur. Si tu scis homies dimittere, ipsi bene dimittent te, tua facta facere. 
 

Through lightness of heart and neglect of our shortcomings we feel not the sorrows of our soul, but often vainly laugh when we have good cause to weep. There is no true liberty nor real joy, save in the fear of God with a good conscience. Happy is he who can cast away every cause of distraction and bring himself to the one purpose of holy compulsion. Happy is he who puts away from him whatsoever may stain or burden his conscience. Strive manfully; custom is overcome by custom. If you know how to let men alone, they will gladly let you alone to do your own works.

Imitation of Christ, I, 21:2

Ecclesiasticus

"Do not reproach a man who is turning away from sin; remember that we all deserve punishment." Ecclesiasticus 8:5

Latin proverbs

Laus alit artes. (Seneca)

Praise nourishes the arts.

Patristics

“... it is clear that this arrangement by which Christ was born of the Holy Spirit, but not as His Son, and of the Virgin Mary as her son, is intended as a manifestation of the grace of God. For it was by this grace that a man, without any antecedent merit, was at the very commencement of His existence as man, so united in one person with the Word of God, that the very person who was Son of Man was at the same time Son of God, and that the very person who was Son of God was at the same time Son of man; and in the adoption of His human nature into the divine, the grace itself became in a way so natural to the man, as to leave no room for the entrance of sin.” Augustine, Enchiridion, XL, NPNF1, 3:251

Baier's Axioms

In hoc nobis est constanter perseverandum, quod Deus non velit nobiscum aliter agere, nisi per vocale verbo et sacramentis et quod, quidquid sine verbo et sacramentis jactatur ut spiritus, sit ipse diabolus.

In this it is constantly preserved among us, that God does not wish to deal with us in any other way than through the spoken word and sacraments, and that, whatever is considered spirit[ual] without word and sacraments is the devil himself.

Luther quotes

“[It is] as if a prince desired to go to war, and his cause was clearly unrighteous; we should neither follow nor help such a prince, because God had commanded us not to kill our neighbor or do him a wrong.” ML, Treatise on Good Works, LW, AE, 44:100

Latin proverbs

Stulti timent fortunam, sapientes ferunt. (Pub. Syrus)

The stupid fear fortune, the wise endure it.

Murphysboro Centuries, 3rd secular

Decius, 249-251 AD

- attempted to restore the pagan religion (which by that time meant primarily the worship of the dead emperors) - systematically persecuted Christians, focusing on bishops and pastors - Christians didn't have to give up their religion, but did have to participate in one pagan ceremony and get a certificate indicating that they had sacrificed to the emperors - executed Pope Fabianus, “I would far rather receive news of a rival to the throne than of another bishop in Rome.”

- huge invasion of the Goths, Decius went to fight them, died in battle, July 251 along with most of his army

Luther quotes

“For even when the government commits an injustice, as the King of Babylon did to the people of Israel, God wants the government obeyed, without treachery or deception. Second, [we sin] when men speak evil of the government and curse it, and when a man cannot avenge himself and abuses the government with grumbling and evil words, in public or in private.” ML, Treatise on Good Works, LW, AE, 44:92

Imitation of Christ

Quære aptum tempus vacandi tibi, de beneficiis Dei frequenter cogita. Relinque curiosa, tales potius perlege materias, quæ compunctionem magis præstent quam occupationem. Si te subtraxeris a superfluis locutionibus et curiosis circuitionibus nec non a novitatibus et remoribus audiendis, invenies tempus sufficiens et aptum bonis meditationibus insistendis. Maximi Sanctorum humana consortia ubi poterant vitabant et Deo in secreto vivere eligebant.
 

Seek a suitable time for your meditation, and think frequently of the mercies of God to you. Leave curious questions. Study such matters as bring you sorrow for sin rather than amusement. If you withdraw yourself from trifling conversation and idle goings about, as well as from novelties and gossip, you will find your time sufficient and apt for good meditation. The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God.

Imitation of Christ, I, 20:1

Ecclesiasticus

"Do not argue with a chatterer, nor heap wood on his fire. Do not jest with an ill-bred person, lest your ancestors be disgraced." Ecclesiasticus 8:3-4

Latin proverbs

Necessitudo ... etiam timidos fortes facit. (Sallust)

Necessity makes even the timid brave.

Patristics

“But as that created thing which the Virgin conceived and brought forth, though it was united only to the person of the Son, was made by the whole Trinity (for the works of the Trinity are not separable), why should the Holy Spirit alone be mentioned as having made it?” Augustine, Enchiridion, XXXVIII, NPNF1, 3:250

Baier's Axioms

Sit bonus interpres, nunquam mala verba nocebunt,

Sit malus interpres, nunquam bona verba juvabunt.

{If} the interpreter is good, bad words will never harm,

{If} the interpreter is bad, good words will never help.